kristen_springer

<p>I recently picked up a used S3, and bought two sets of NI-MH rechargeable AA batteries.<br>

The first week or so I just picked the camera up here and there to play around and get used to it, and it seemed to me that I got a "low battery" message a bit prematurely, but wasn't positive.<br>

I took the S3 on vacation with me this week, loaded newly-charged batteries in it and we went on a hike. 90 minutes after I started shooting, and less than 50 shots down, I went to shoot and got "change batteries" message - ! Thankfully I had a second set as we weren't even at the halfway point in our day of sightseeing.<br>

Everything I read online indicated folks were quite happy with the battery life of this unit, so obviously there is something wrong here. I have it set so that it powers off 1-2 minutes after the last shot, so it's not that it's being left on.<br>

Does anyone have any ideas about what might be causing this kind of excessive battery drain on a Powershot? Sure is a big disappointment, and if I can't find a cure the camera won't be of much use to me.<br>

I appreciate any input - thanks. </p>

<p>Kristen</p>

 

I ended up getting a deal on a Bogen 3001 "pro" and a 3030 head, and I'm really pleased with how solid it is. But I'm guessing there are even more variations of the 3001 available than I realized, and I don't see the capability for a horizontal arm on this, though there is a screw hole between 2 of the legs, maybe I can buy an arm that attaches there?

 

The center column does come out and reverse so the camera can be used upside down or at an angle from a very low point.

 

I am also curious because I saw a 6" center post for sale (the post on this is about 12") and it says it can be used when bringing the legs even lower. But the legs on this 3001Pro have 3 possible angles and I don't see that it can be spread any lower than where the current 12" is hitting the ground anyway. If that makes sense to anyone.

 

If Matthew or anyone else can give me any tips about how I can lower the camera even further on this model, I would love to hear about it.

 

Thanks for all the great feedback ... if this Bogen doesn't work out I've got a number of other options now!

I've been searching the forum for a while, hoping to find a thread that would answer my

question -- and I'm sure it's here somewhere! - but no luck yet, so will ask for some

specific feedback.

 

I have a new Canon 70-200 lens that I'm lovin' except that my Velbon doesn't handle it

well. So I would like to move to a sturdier tripod, for not much more than $200 if

possible. I'm willing to search out something used if I can figure out what to look for.

 

The 70-200 at this time is the heaviest lens I have -- don't really anticipate (right now!)

having anything heavier in the future.

 

I'm only 5 foot 1, so I don't need a lot of height. But I do a fair amount of macro work

(with a macro lens) and need to get as low down as I can. So far the tripods I have

seen that would be a good fit for the 70-200 won't go very low at all.

 

And I do quite a bit of hiking with my gear, so something maybe under 6 pounds would

be great.

 

If there's a tripod (or combination) out there that would fit my needs, I sure would like to

hear about it!

Okay, after everyone's input I did indeed discover that the damn spot is not on the lens itself. Another learning experience! And a huge relief. I will follow the directions and suggestions given for cleaning the camera. Do appreciate everyone's (patient) responses.

After exhaustive research I decided to buy the Sigma 10-20 wide angle and it

arrived today. Using it on a Canon 10D. Anyway, I set up my tripod and took

a series of test shots that included a good section of sky -- on the second

shot I realized there was a spot on the lens. I cleaned the lens and

viewfinder but lo and behold, it is still there. A black spot, small but

showed up clearly against the blue sky. I rushed half a dozen shots down to

the computer only to find the spot doesn't show up in the pictures...? Looking

through the viewfinder I can clearly see this spot, and it seems to me to be

on the inside of the lens, especially because I can't get it cleaned off.

 

I bought this lens through an online store and am wondering if I should return

it immediately for another lens, or just ignore the darn spot which I am

seeing through the viewfinder. It is fairly small (hard to explain but it is

at least half the size of any of the centerfield viewfinder hash marks). I

was so excited to get the lens and hate to have to go through the hassle of

returning it and waiting for a new one.

 

Anyone out there have this kind of experience with a lens? Any thoughts would

be appreciated.

This input has been great and I really appreciate it. I think if I decide to buy an *extra* lens than I would like to have that Sigma 10-20 because of its range. But I may have to sell my 24-85 in order to buy another lens, so I am going to check into the Tamron 17-50 and 17-35 lenses first. I have owned a Tamron before and it was a solid lens that I was quite happy with.

 

I too read the article about modify the Canon EF-S wide angle, but it really doesn't sound like its such a great lens that its worth the hassle and risk. So I'll look for something that fits as is!

I am excited to be converting over to digital from my Elan 7, but so

disappointed at the range loss I will suffer on my 24-85mm zoom...I take one

or two vacations a year where I really use wide angle. But looking

around for a w/a lens for the 10D I can't find anything under $500. Any chance

I'm missing a more affordable wide angle out there? Obviously not expecting

top of the line for less than $500 but right now willing to take what I can

get until I can afford something better.